Scream for me, Dallas: Pooran set the inaugural MLC final alight with a lightning-quick hundred
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No. 16, Nicholas Pooran
by Deivarayan Muthu
While Kieron Pollard, Dwayne Bravo, and Sunil Narine are regarded as the T20 legends of Trinidad and Tobago, Nicholas Pooran represents the new wave of T20 talent from the region. He has participated and excelled in numerous T20 leagues worldwide.
A formidable left-handed batsman with no discernible weaknesses against both pace and spin, Pooran is also a reliable wicketkeeper. His standout feature is his ability to hit sixes consistently. In 2024, he smashed 170 sixes, surpassing Heinrich Klaasen, who was second with 65. This achievement made him the record-holder for the most sixes in a calendar year in T20 cricket, even outdoing legends like Pollard and Chris Gayle.
Initially, his immense power was not evident, as demonstrated in 2014 when he struggled against Narine’s mystery spin in a critical Super Over during the CPL. A life-threatening car accident in 2015 jeopardized his cricket career, with doctors uncertain about his recovery. Nevertheless, after two surgeries and extensive rehabilitation, Pooran made a remarkable return nearly two years later, even regaining his place as a wicketkeeper.
Upon his return, he excelled in the CPL 2016, scoring 217 runs in eight innings at a strike rate near 200, which led to his T20I debut for West Indies that same year. His adaptability allows him to bat anywhere from positions 1 to 7, augmented by his wicketkeeping and leadership abilities, solidifying his reputation as a T20 asset.
After being signed by Punjab Kings in 2019 for Rs 4.2 crore (about $575,000), Pooran later moved to Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2022 and ultimately joined Lucknow Super Giants. In 2023 and 2024, he became a crucial player in the middle-order for LSG, resulting in his top retention by the franchise for Rs 21 crore ($2.5 million).
As Bravo retires and with Pollard and Narine nearing the end of their careers, the 29-year-old Pooran stands as the face of West Indian T20 cricket. Among his career highlights is his outstanding 40-ball century for MI New York in the 2023 MLC final in Dallas, which he considered his best T20 innings.
